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BRIEF  HISTORY 


OF    THE 


NEWARK  ACADEMY 

1774-1792-1916  ^^^ 


BY 


WILSON  FARRAND 


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O.     ILlli 

V  H  f^  ,s  r  T  ^' 


CONTRIBUTION   TO   THE   CELEBRATION   OF 
THE  250th   ANNIVERSARY   OF   THE 
FOUNDING   OF   NEWARK 
MAY.  1916 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/briefhistoryofneOOfarrrich 


SAMUEL  ASHBEL  FARRAND.  Ph.D. 
Head  Master.    1859-1865  and   1875-1908 


A 

BRIEF  HISTORY 

OF    THE 

NEWARK  ACADEMY 

1774  -  1792  -  1916 

BY 

WILSON  FARRAND 

-.1 


CONTRIBUTION   TO    THE    CELEBRATION    OF 
THE  250th   ANNIVERSARY   OF   THE 
FOUNDING   OF   NEWARK 
MAY.  1916 


VT>f\ 


(M> 


i 


FOR  the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  of  the  founding  of  the 
Newark  Academy  in  1892,  Mr.  William  R.  Weeks,  at  that 
time  President  of  the  Alumni  Association,  prepared  a 
sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Academy,  in  regard  to  which  he  had 
for  a  long  time  been  collecting  data. 

My  father,  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Farrand,  for  many  years  had  been 
investigating  the  early  records  and  gathering  material  for  a  his- 
tory of  the  school,  two  chapters  of  which  had  been  completed  at 
the  time  of  his  death  in  1908. 

The  present  sketch  makes  no  pretense  to  originality.  It  is 
based  on  the  investigations  of  Dr.  Farrand  and  Mr.  Weeks,  and 
in  compiling  it  free  use  has  been  made  of  the  materials  gathered 
by  them.     In  some  cases  I  have  not  hesitated  to  use  their  words. 

It  is  my  desire  and  intention,  at  some  time  in  the  not  very 
remote  future,  to  make  this  brief  sketch  the  basis  of  a  more  com- 
plete and  adequate  history.  The  true  history  of  the  Academy, 
however,  and  the  best  record  of  its  achievement  is  to  be  found 
in  the  list  of  the  able  and  worthy  men,  whom  for  a  century  and  a 
quarter  it  has  been  training  and  sending  out  to  act  as  leaders  in 
the  civic  and  intellectual  life  of  the  community. 

WILSON  FARRAND. 


M12780 


THE   NEWARK   ACADEMY 


THE  FIRST  SCHOOLS  IN  NEWARK 

Newark  was  first  settled  in  May,    1  666. 

The  first  school  in  New  Jersey,  in  all  probability,  was  estab- 
lished in  Bergen  in  1  662,  and  was  taught  by  Engelbert  Steen- 
huysen.     The  first  school  in  Newark  began  its  work  in  1  676. 

At  a  Town  Meeting  held  in  November,  1675,  it  was  voted 
that: 

"Item — The  Town's  Men  have  Liberty  to  see  if  they  can 
find  a  competent  Number  of  Schollars,  and  accommodations  for 
a  School  Master,  within  this  Town,'*  and  in  the  records  of  another 
meeting  on  the  7th  of  February  following  we  read: 

"Item — The  Town  hath  consented  that  the  Town's  Men 
should  perfect  the  Bargain  with  the  School  Master  for  the  Year, 
upon  Condition  that  he  will  come  for  this  Year,  and  do  his  faith- 
ful, honest,  and  true  Endeavor,  to  teach  the  Children  or  servants 
of  those  as  have  subscribed,  the  reading  and  writing  of  English, 
and  also  Arethmetick  if  they  desire  it;  as  much  as  they  are  cap- 
able to  learn  and  he  capable  to  teach  them,  w^ithin  the  Compass 
of  this  Year — nowise  hindring  but  that  he  may  make  what  bar- 
gain he  please,  with  those  as  have  not  subscribed.  It  is  voted, 
that  the  Town's  Men  have  Liberty  to  compleat  the  Bargain  with 
the  School  Master,  they  knowing  the  Town's  Mind." 

Under  this  authority  John  Catlin  was  employed,  and  became 
the  first  teacher  in  Newark.  He  appears  to  have  been  an  active 
and  public-spirited  man,  at  one  time  holding  the  office  of  town 
attorney,  and  at  another  being  chosen  as  one  of  the  Town's  Men. 

The  first  school-house  was  probably  the  one  known  to  be 
standing  in  1714,  a  log  house  with  a  dirt  floor,  on  the  south 
side  of  Market  Street  near  Halsey. 

In  1  746,  Rev.  Aaron  Burr,  Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  established  a  classical  school,  which  was  very  prosperous 


and  attained  a  wide  reputation.  It  was  later  united  with  The  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey,  which  had  been  founded  at  Elizabeth,  but 
which,  upon  the  death  of  its  first  President,  Rev.  Jonathan  Dickin- 
son, was  removed  to  Newark,  Mr.  Burr  becoming  its  President. 
The  College  was  removed  to  Princeton  in  1  756,  and  later  became 
known  as  Princeton  College.  It  was  not,  however,  until  1896 
that  its  title  was  officially  changed  to  Princeton  University. 

:;.         THE  FIRST  ACADEMY  IN  NEWARK 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  8,  1  774,  it  was 

*'\/^oy.cd,  that  a  3chool  house  may  be  built  on  any  of  the 
Comon  Land  in  Newark — and  the  particular  Place  shall  be 
where  a  major  Part  of  the  Subscribers  in  Value  shall  appoint." 

This  action  undoubtedly  had  reference  to  the  organization 
of  the  Academy,  which  was  then  in  progress.  Unfortunately 
the  records  of  this  organization  were  lost,  but  it  is  known  that 
sufficient  money  was  subscribed  by  interested  citizens,  and  a 
building  erected. 

This  building  stood  near  the  south  side  of  Washington  Park, 
directly  opposite  the  residence  of  the  late  Beach  Vanderpool.  It 
is  described  as,  "a  sightly  and  commodious  stone  edifice,"  two 
stories  high,  with  dwelling  rooms  for  the  teacher  and  his  family, 
besides  accommodations  for  pupils  who  might  desire  to  be  lodged 
and  boarded.  Among  the  Trustees  of  the  Academy  were  Rev. 
Alexander  McWhorter,  William  Burnet,  Esq.,  Caleb  Camp,  Esq., 
Jonathan  Crane,  and  Alexander  Eagles. 

The  following  advertisement  appeared  in  the  New  York 
Journal  or  the  General  Advertiser,  of  Nov.  24,   1  774: 

''Wanted  immediately 

At  the  Academy  at  Newark,  in  New-Jersey,  an  English 
school-master.  None  need  apply  but  a  person  who  can  bring 
ample  testimonials  of  his  being  capable  of  instructing  youth,  in 
the  several  branches  of  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  and  of 
his  good  character.  Such  a  one  will  meet  with  good  encourage- 
ment, by  applying  to  William  Camp  or  Isaac  Longworth  at 
Newark." 

In  the  Poets*  Corner  of  the  New  York  Journal  or  the  Gen- 
eral Advertiser  for  Jan.  12,  1  775,  we  read: 

"The  following  verses  were  spoken  by  a  boy  at  the  opening 
of  the  Academy  at  Newark,  in  New-Jersey,  upon  the  fourth 
instant,  addressed  to  the  Gentlemen  concerned  in  building  that 
elegant  structure: 


AMIDST  the  ranks  who  try  by  different  ways, 

To  purchase  honors  or  to  merit  praise, 
The  GOD-LIKE  MAN  how  rare!     How  few  like  YOU 

Disinterested  paths  to  fame  pursue? 
YOU  who  lavish' d  sums  (the  fruits  of  peace) 

To  bless  the  present  and  succeeding  race! 
To  sing  your  praise  MY  infant  muse  is  weak. 

But  what  SHE  cannot,  let  this  fabric  speak; 
Yet  deign  t'  accept  the  tribute  of  my  lay. 

For  thanks  is  all  a  poet  has  to  pay. 
O  may  your  labors  with  success  be  crow^n'd. 

And  NEWARK  still  for  lit*rature  renowned. 
So  shall  fair  science  bless  our  happy  land. 

And  in  fame's  roll,  your  names  immortal  stand. 
Newark.  6th  January,    1774."      (1775) 

At  the  Town  Meeting  held  on  March  14,   1  775,  it  was: 

* 'Voted  unanimously,  that  One  Acre  and  an  half  of  Land 
in  the  Town  Commons  at  the  North  End  of  the  Town,  may  be 
taken  up  for  the  Use  of  the  new  Academy  lately  erected  on  s'd 
land.  Voted,  that  Lewis  Ogden  Esq'r,  William  Camp,  Isaac 
Ogden  Esq.,  Capt.  Anthony  Rutgers,  Joseph  Hedden  Jun'r, 
Samuel  Hayes,  and  Joseph  Ailing,  or  any  four  of  them  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  lay  out  one  Acre  and  an  half  of  Land,  for  the  Use  of  the 
Academy  in  such  Manner  as  they  shall  think  proper." 

In  the  New  York  Journal  or  the  General  Advertiser  for 
March  23,  1  775,  also  in  Rivington's  New  York  Gazetteer  for  the 
same  date,  the  following  announcement  appeared: 

*The  ACADEMY  lately  erected  in  a  healthy  part  of  the 
pleasant  town  of  Newark  in  New  Jersey,  about  eight  miles  from 
the  city  of  New  York,  will  on  the  third  day  of  April  next,  be  fit 
for  the  reception  of  the  masters  proper  for  the  instruction  of 
youth,  and  of  such  children  as  can  with  conveniency  lodge  and 
board  therein.  There  will  be  taught  the  learned  languages  and 
several  branches  of  Mathematicks.  There  will  be  also  an  Eng- 
lish School  for  the  teaching  of  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetic,  and 
Bookkeeping  in  the  usual  and  Italian  Methods.  Different  rooms 
will  be  made  use  of  for  each  branch  of  instruction;  and  such  as 
choose  may  have  their  children  taught  the  English  tongue  gram- 
matically. The  boys  are  separated  from  the  girls  in  the  English 
School.  Those  who  can't  board  in  the  Academy,  may  have  good 
lodging  near  the  same  in  private  families.  The  regulation  and 
general  direction  of  the  instruction  of  the  scholars  will  be  under 


the  auspices  of  the  Governors  of  the  Academy,  who  will  from 
time  to  time  inspect  the  conduct  of  the  several  masters,  and 
examine  the  improvements  of  their  pupils  in  learning. 

"Mr.  William  Haddon,  one  long  experienced  by  several  of 
the  said  governors  to  be  well  qualified  to  teach  the  learned  Lan- 
guages and  the  Mathematicks,  will  have  the  superintendency  of 
the  youth  to  be  taught  in  those  branches  of  learning,  and  Robert 
Allan  and  Son  to  have  the  care  and  keeping  the  schools  for  the 
instruction  of  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetick,  and  Bookkeeping, 
who  have  discharged  those  trusts  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  their 
employers.  As  the  intention  of  the  benefactors  and  builders  of 
this  stately  edifice,  is  for  preparing  youth  to  be  useful  members 
of  the  community,  the  greatest  care  will  be  taken  not  only  to 
have  them  well  instructed  in  the  branches  of  learning  which 
their  parents  respectively  order,  but  also  in  the  paths  of  virtue 
and  morality:  Care  also  will  be  taken  that  they  attend  public 
worship  at  the  usual  times  of  holding  the  same  at  the  churches 
to  which  they  belong,  there  being  in  the  said  town  two  churches, 
one  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  other  the  Presbyterian;  the 
ministers  of  which,  for  the  time  being,  are  always  to  be  of  the 
number  of  the  said  Governors,  and  it  is  hoped  that  they,  with 
the  other  Governors,  will  give  that  attendance  to  the  trust  they 
have  undertaken,  as  will  answer  the  laudable  end  proposed,  and 
give  ample  satisfaction  to  the  parents  and  guardians  of  children 
sent  to  the  said  Academy. 

Newark.  1 0th  March,  1775. 
N.  B.  TTie  tuition  money  for  teaching  the  learned  Languages 
and  branches  of  Mathematicks  is  £5.  New  York  currency  per 
annum.  Reading  the  English  Language  8  shillings  per  quarter. 
Reading  and  writing  English  1  0  shillings  per  quarter.  Reading, 
Writing,  and  Arithmetick  1  2  shillings  per  quarter.*' 

Newark  at  that  time  was  a  small  village  with  less  than  1,000 
inhabitants,  and  it  is  strong  evidence  of  their  liberality  and  public 
spirit  that  they  should  from  their  limited  means  build,  what  was 
for  that  time,  "a  stately  and  commodious  edifice"  for  their  new 
Academy.  They  were  proud  of  their  school,  and  for  a  time  its 
prosperity  equalled  their  expectations.  The  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, however,  broke  out.  Principal  Haddon  was  an  ardent  Loy- 
alist, and  fled  to  New  York  for  protection.  Another  teacher  was 
procured  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  continue  the  work  of  the 
school.  It  was  finally  given  up,  however,  and  the  school  found  a 
new  service  in  the  cause  of  liberty,   being  used  as  a  barracks. 


guard-house,  and  hospital  for  American  troops.  On  the  night  of 
January  25,  1  780,  it  was  burned  to  the  ground  by  a  raiding  party 
of  British  from  New  York. 

The  following  account  of  this  episode  is  copied  from  the 
New  Jersey  Journal  of  February  2,   1  780: 

"The  same  night  another  party  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of 
drafts  from  the  different  regiments  stationed  in  New  York, 
passed  over  the  North  River  in  sleighs,  to  Powle's  Hook;  from 
thence  through  Bergen,  the  nearest  way  to  Newark.  They  en- 
tered the  town  in  three  divisions,  and  proceeded  to  the  academy, 
where  they  surprised  and  took  about  fifteen  men,  being  all  the 
troops  that  were  on  duty  in  the  town — a  lieutenant,  notwith- 
standing he  was  twice  a  prisoner  with  the  enemy,  by  his  vigilance 
effected  his  escape.  They  then  set  fire  to  the  academy,  which 
they  consumed,  during  which  time  a  party  was  detached  to  sev- 
eral of  the  inhabitants*  houses,  which  they  rifled  of  the  most  val- 
uable effects;  that  which  was  not  portable  they  destroyed.  They 
took  off  Justice  Hedden  and  Robert  Neil,  Jun.,  two  of  the  inhab- 
itants. The  former  gentleman  was  taken  out  of  his  bed,  and 
without  any  of  his  clothes  on  except  his  shirt  and  a  pair  of 
stockings,  carried  off,  notwithstanding  the  strongest  solicitations 
of  Mrs.  Hedden  to  the  officers,  for  permission  for  her  husband  to 
dress  himself.  She  received  two  wounds  with  a  bayonet,  one  in 
the  face,  the  other  in  the  breast. 

"They  continued  in  town  about  fifteen  or  eighteen  minutes. 
A  few  militia  being  hastily  collected,  pursued  their  rear,  by  which 
means  five  of  the  enemy  fell  into  their  hands.  Two  of  them  died 
a  short  time  after  from  the  intense  cold.  Justice  Hedden  is  so 
frost-bitten,  that  it  is  thought  he  will  lose  both  his  legs.** 

For  twelve  years  there  was  no  Academy  in  Newark,  and  so 
far  as  the  records  show  no  school  was  maintained. 

THE  NEWARK  ACADEMY 

On  November  30,  1791,  a  meeting  was  held  at  Gifford*s 
Tavern,  at  which  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  McWhorter,  Rev.  Uzal 
Ogden  and  Mr.  John  Burnet  were  appointed  a  committee  to  solicit 
subscriptions  for  rebuilding  the  old  Academy,  or  erecting  a  new 
one.  Articles  of  association  were  signed,  in  w^hich  it  was  declared 
to  be  "the  duty,  interest  and  honor  of  the  town  to  promote  the 
education  of  youth  by  erecting  a  large  and  convenient  Academy 
for  teaching  English,  the  learned  Languages,  and  Arts  and 
Sciences.*' 


The  original  subscription  list,  written  on  parchment,  is  still 
in  the  possession  of  the  Academy  Trustees. 

At  a  meeting  held  February  3,  1  792,  Isaac  Gouverneur  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Association;  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  Secre- 
tary; and  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  McWhorter,  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden, 
Isaac  Gouverneur,  William  P.  Smith,  Abraham  Ogden,  Samuel 
Hay,  Moses  Ogden,  Philip  Kearney  and  Dr.  Uzal  Johnson,  Stand- 
ing Committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  standing  committee,  held  February  3, 
1  792,  the  size  and  style  of  the  building  were  agreed  upon,  and 
Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter,  Rev.  Mr.  Ogden,  Abraham  Ogden,  Philip 
Kearny  and  Elisha  Boudinot  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
obtain  further  donations. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  on  the  8th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1  792,  a  general  constitution  was  agreed  upon  and  adopted. 
Two  articles  of  this  constitution  are  of  permanent  interest,  and 
are  as  follows: 

Article  I.  All  the  subscribers  to  the  building  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  sole  proprietors  in  common  of  the  Academy,  and 
shall  hold  their  interest  in  it,  and  in  all  property  now  pertaining, 
or  that  shall  hereafter  pertain  to  it,  in  proportion  to  the  amount 
of  their  respective  subscriptions;  and  they  shall  be  known  by  the 
name  and  stile  of  The  Proprietors  of  the  Academy  in  Newark. 
The  deed  for  the  land  on  which  the  building  shall  stand,  shall  be 
made  to  them  as  Tenants  in  Common,  and  not  as  Joint  Tenants, 
to  be  had  and  holden  to  them  and  their  assigns  for  the  uses  and 
purposes  hereinafter  expressed,  and  for  no  other  purpose  what- 
ever. 

IX.  The  lot  and  land  purchased  by  the  proprietors,  and  the 
building  which  shall  be  erected  thereon,  with  all  the  property 
which  may  hereafter  pertain  to  the  institution,  shall  never  be 
appropriated  to  any  uses  or  purposes  but  for  the  education  of 
youth,  in  the  English,  French,  Latin  and  Greek  Languages,  and 
in  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  for  the  support  and  accommodation  of 
Tutors  and  Masters,  except  the  third  story  of  the  Academy,  which 
will  be  the  property  of  the  fraternity  of  Free  Masons,  they  com- 
plying with  the  terms  proposed  and  agreed  on. 

It  is  evident  that  the  committee  having  in  charge  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  building  thought  that  they  were  the  legitimate 
successors  of  those  who  governed  the  former  school  w^hich  was 
destroyed  by  the  British,  for,  on  September  26,   1  792,  they 

"Resolved,  that  the  Rev.  Doctor  McWhorter.  the  Rev.  Mr. 

10 


Ogden,  Judge  Smith,  Mr.  Abm.  Ogden  and  Mr.  Boudinot  be  a 
Committee  to  thank  the  Hon.  Elias  Boudinot  and  the  Hon.  Abra- 
ham Clark  for  their  services  in  endeavouring  to  obtain  of  Con- 
gress an  Indemnification  for  the  Academy  in  this  Town,  burnt  by 
the  British  Troops,  and  also  to  transmit  to  those  Gentlemen 
Documents  respecting  the  Expences  of  said  Building  and  its  being 
burnt  as  aforesaid  because  it  was  occupied  as  a  Guard  House  by 
the  American  Troops.*' 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  many  such  claims  for  indem- 
nity were  made  by  institutions  and  individuals  whose  property 
had  been  destroyed  by  the  British.  None  of  these  were  granted, 
and  the  claim  of  the  Academy  proved  as  fruitless  as  did  the 
others.  The  episode  clearly  shows,  however,  that,  while  there 
is  no  record  of  any  corporate  connection  between  the  two  insti- 
tutions, the  founders  of  the  Newark  Academy  regarded  them- 
selves as  the  direct  successors  of  the  men  who  had  built  the  first 
Aademy  in  1  774.  Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter  who  was  a  leading  spirit 
in  the  establishment  of  the  new  Academy  appears  to  be  the  only 
one  who  had  been  a  Governor  of  the  first  school,  a  circumstance 
which  is  probably  explained  by  the  fact  that  several  of  the  first 
board  are  known  to  have  been  Loyalists,  and  had  either  left 
Newark,  or  no  longer  occupied  positions  of  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. 

On  April  13,  1793,  Abraham  Ogden  and  Elisha  Boudinot 
were  appointed  a  committee  "to  petition  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  to  grant  a  Lottery  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding  800  pounds 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Academy,**  and  on  June  22  the  committee 
reported  that  the  Legislature  had  granted  the  lottery.  Isaac 
Gouverneur,  Abraham  Ogden,  Elisha  Boudinot,  William  Burnet 
and  Col.  John  N.  Cumming  were  appointed  managers,  and  were 
each  required  to  give  security  to  the  extent  of  $8,000. 

The  records  of  the  Academy  show  that  the  lottery  was  car- 
ried out  and  duly  drawn,  but  do  not  state  the  amount  of  money 
that  was  secured  by  this  means. 

The  site  selected  for  the  new  building  was  on  the  west  side 
of  Broad  Street,  at  what  is  now^  the  corner  of  Academy  Street, 
at  present  occupied  by  the  Post  Office.  The  plot  was  purchased 
September  3,  1  792,  in  the  names  of  the  Trustees  as  individuals, 
and  they  failed  to  convey  it  to  the  institution.  It  stood  in  their 
names  until  1821,  when  the  legislature  passed  an  act  vesting  the 
title  in  "The  Trustees  of  Newark  Academy,"  subject  to  the  right 
or  claim  of  any  person  or  persons  derived  from  said  trustees. 

This  proviso  referred  to   the  rights  in  the  building  of  St. 

n 


John's  Lodge.  The  Lodge  and  its  members  had  contributed 
liberally  to  the  building  fund,  in  consideration  of  which  it  was 
to  have  the  use  forever  of  the  third  story.  This  relation  later 
led  to  situations  that  w^ere  both  serious  and  amusing. 

The  work  of  erecting  the  building  was  begun  early  in  the 
spring  of  1  792,  although  the  deed  to  the  lot  was  not  obtained 
until  the  following  September.  The  building,  which  was  of  brick, 
and  three  stories  high,  extended  sixty-six  feet  in  front  on  Broad 
Street,  and  was  thirty-four  feet  in  depth.  At  a  later  date  a  two- 
story  extension  was  added  at  the  north  end. 

The  cornerstone  was  laid  with  Masonic  ceremonies  on  June 
25,  1  792,  the  exercises  being  conducted  by  Gen.  John  N.  Gum- 
ming, one  of  the  Governors  of  the  Academy  and  Worshipful 
Master  of  the  Lodge.  The  corner  stone  was  a  slab  of  brown 
stone,  about  a  foot  thick,  four  and  a  half  feet  long  and  two  feet 
wide.  When  the  building  was  torn  down  in  1856,  the  stone  was 
removed  to  the  new  Academy  grounds  on  High  Street.  There, 
with  its  inscription  underneath,  it  served  for  many  years  as  a 
step  at  the  side  door,  trodden  on  by  hundreds  of  school  boys 
without  a  suspicion  of  its  historic  character.  When  the  new  gym- 
nasium was  built  in  1887,  the  old  corner  stone  was  discovered, 
cleaned  and  placed  in  the  wall  of  the  building. 

The  inscription,  rudely  carved  in  Roman  letters,  is  still 
decipherable,  and  is  as  follows: 

Auspicante  DEO 

Aedificii 

Literarum  Architectonicaeq. 

Fautoribus  dicati 

sub  auspiciis 

GEORGII  WASHINGTON 

Americae  Foederatae  Praesidis 

Patris  Patriae   Amatissimi 

(Gulielmo  Patterson 

Neo  Caesariae  tunc  Gubernatore) 

Curatores  Academiae 

(Plaudente  ingenti  Ordinis 

Architectonici   frequentia) 

Lapidem  hunc  primum 

Solenniter  Posuerunt 

Die  XXV  Junii 

Anno  Salutis  MDCCXCII 

Aerae  Aechitectonicae 

I  I  CCXCII 

12 


Translated,  it  reads: 

By  the  blessing  of  God, 

Under  the  auspicious  Government  of 

George  Washington, 

The  beloved  Father  of  his  Country, 

President  of  the  United  States  of  America, 

(and  William  Patterson, 

Governor  of  New  Jersey,) 

The  Governors  of  the  Academy, 

(amidst  the  acclamations 

of  a  large  concourse  of  Freemasons,) 

Laid  the  Foundation  Stone 

of  this  building. 
Dedicated  to  the  Patrons  of 
Literature  and  Freemasonry, 

On  the  25  th  day  of  June, 

In  the  year  of  Our  Lord  1  792 

And  of  the  Aera  of  Freemasonry,  5  792. 

It  is  said  that  the  inscription  was  first  written  in  English, 
and  then  translated  into  Latin  by  Judge  William  Peartree  Smith. 

School  work  was  begun  without  waiting  for  the  completion 
of  the  building.  At  a  meeting  of  the  "Governors  of  the  Aca- 
demy in  Newark,'*  on  May  7,  1  792,  present  Isaac  Gouverneur, 
Esqr.,  Prest.,  Rev.  Dr.  McWhorter,  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  Hon. 
Judge  Smith,  Abraham  Ogden,  Esqr.,  Thomas  Bennet,  Esqr., 
Mr.  Philip  Kearney,  John  N.  Gumming,  Esq'r.,  and  Elisha  Boudi- 
not,  Esqr.,  it  was  resolved,  "that  Mr.  James  Moffert,  of  Scotland, 
be  invited  to  take  the  charge  of  this  academy,  for  at  least  three 
years,  with  a  salary  of  eighty-five  guineas  per  annum,  but  that, 
previous  to  his  entrance  in  office,  he  shall  give  satisfaction  to  the 
governors  of  this  seminary  of  his  abilities  properly  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  his  function.** 

It  was  also  resolved,  "that  if  the  moneys  of  the  academy, 
arising  from  tuition,  shall  be  more  than  the  sum  of  eighty-five 
guineas,  thus  annually  to  be  raised  him,  he  shall  be  entitled  to 
receive  the  surplus.'* 

There  is  no  further  mention  of  Mr.  Moffert,  and  we  are  left 
to  infer  either  that  he  failed  to  "give  satisfaction  of  his  abilities,** 
or  that  he  declined  the  munificent  offer. 

At  the  same  meeting,  it  was  further  resolved,  "that  Mr. 
Jonathan  Baldwin  take  the  charge  of  the  academy  for  the  quar- 

13 


ter  of  the  year  next  ensuing."  Thus  it  appears  that  Mr.  Jonathan 
Baldwin  was  the  first  teacher  in  the  Academy. 

Where  the  school  was  held  while  the  new  building  was  in 
course  of  erection  is  uncertain,  as  well  as  when  the  new  building 
was  first  used  for  school  purposes. 

On  December  28,  1  792,  it  was  "Resolved,  That  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Ogden  engage  a  house  (to  teach  in)  of  James  V.  Pool,  for 
one  quarter,  for  30  shillings,  and  engage  some  carpenter  em- 
ployed at  the  academy  to  make  suitable  benches  and  tables  for 
said  room  at  the  expense  of  the  academy." 

On  April  13,  1  793,  it  was  "Agreed  that  fifty  shillings  per 
quarter  for  the  present  be  paid  to  Josiah  Jones  for  his  work 
shop  for  a  room  to  accommodate  the  scholars  of  the  Academy." 

On  June  24,  1  793,  the  governors  of  the  Academy  engaged 
Mr.  John  Penman,  as  a  teacher  of  the  French  language,  to  teach 
(for  the  present)  in  the  Court  House,  from  6  to  8  o'clock  in  the 
morning." 

St.  John*s  Lodge  Room  on  the  third  floor  was  dedicated 
with  appropriate  ceremonies,  June  16,  1795,  and  the  Academy 
records  show  that  on  November  3  of  the  same  year  Rev.  Mr. 
Ogden  was  authorized  to  raise  money  to  finish  "another  room" 
in  the  Academy,  so  that  it  is  evident  that  the  new  building  was 
in  use  by  1  795. 

An  interesting  side  light  on  the  methods  employed  to  raise 
money  is  given  in  the  statement  in  the  records  that  on  March 
30,  1  795,  it  was  "Agreed  that  Rev.  Mr.  Ogden  be  empowered 
to  sell  the  negro  man  James  given  by  Mr.  Watts  for  as  much 
money  as  he  will  sell  for,"  and,  that  on  May  8,  1  795,  he  reported 
that  he  had  "sold  Negro  James  to  Mr.  Moses  Ogden  for  40 
pounds  payable  in  two  months." 

It  is  also  mentioned  in  the  minutes  of  August  27,  1  796,  that 
a  Mr.  Mitchell  was  engaged  to  teach  dancing. 

The  Academy  was  incorporated,  April  29,  1  795,  under 
the  act  entitled  "An  act  to  incorporate  societies  for  the  promo- 
tion of  learning,"  and  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  McWhorter,  Rev. 
Uzal  Ogden,  Judge  William  Peartree  Smith,  Judge  Elisha  Boudi- 
not,  Samuel  Ogden,  Abraham  Ogden  and  Gen.  John  N.  Gum- 
ming were  elected  trustees.  The  certificate  of  incorporation  was 
filed  June  6,   1  795. 

Isaac  Gouverneur  had  died  shortly  before  this,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  McWhorter  was  elected  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  McWhorter,  Elisha  Boudinot  was  chosen 
by  the  board,  May  1 4,   1  808,  as  president. 

14 


From  a  set  of  rules  issued  by  the  Trustees  in  1  79  7,  it  appears 
that  the  school  hours  were  from  eight  to  twelve  in  the  morning, 
and  from  two  to  five  in  the  afternoon,  six  days  in  the  week. 
There  were  two  vacations  in  the  year  of  three  weeks  each,  one 
beginning  on  the  third  Monday  in  April,  and  the  other  on  the 
third  Monday  in  September. 

The  rates  of  tuition  were  as  follows:  "for  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages,  four  dollars  per  quarter,  and  two  dollars  en- 
trance; for  the  French  Language,  four  dollars  and  sixty-seven 
cents  per  quarter,  and  tw^o  dollars  entrance;  for  Geography  or 
the  Mathematics,  four  dollars  per  quarter;  for  any  Pupils  who 
may  be  taught  English  Writing  and  Arithmetic  by  the  teacher  of 
the  Latin  and  Greek  Languages,  or  the  teacher  of  Geography 
or  the  Mathematics,  two  dollars  and  one  half  of  a  dollar  per 
quarter;  and  for  teaching  Reading,  Writing  and  Arithmetic  in 
the  English  School,  two  dollars  per  quarter." 

There  were  many  changes  of  teachers  in  the  early  years. 
The  first  to  serve  for  any  length  of  time  was  Thomas  Findlay, 
who  was  appointed  May  16,  1796.  He  remained  as  a  teacher 
until  1  809,  although  he  was  superseded  as  Head  Master  by  Rev. 
William  Woodbridge  in  1802.  The  departments  of  Latin  and 
Greek  remained  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Findlay,  and  were  main- 
tained separately  from  the  other  departments. 

In  1802  the  Trustees  advertised  that  they  and  several  Gen- 
tlemen of  the  Town,  "having  taken  into  consideration  the  high 
importance  of  Female  Education,**  had  agreed  to  establish  a 
Female  Academy  and  Boarding  School,  and  that  they  had  en- 
gaged Reverend  William  Woodbridge,  "a  Gentleman  of  very 
amiable  Character,**  to  take  charge  of  this  "Seminary  and  Board- 
ing School.*'  Mr.  Woodbridge  was  offered  the  use  of  the  rear 
land,  free  of  rent,  on  which  to  erect  a  building.  "A  spacious  and 
convenient  brick  house,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  young 
ladies  with  the  preceptor's  family,  was,  soon  after,  erected  ad- 
joining the  Academy.'* 

The  advertisement  stated  that: 

"In  this  Seminary  shall  be  taught;  The  first  principles  of 
the  English  Language,  and  plain  sewing,  for  three  dollars  per 
quarter.  The  fine  branches  of  Needle  Work,  the  English  Lan- 
guage grammatically,  Reading,  Writing,  Arithmetick,  Composi- 
tion, History,  and  the  use  of  the  Globes  for  five  dollars  per  quar- 
ter. The  French  Language  for  five  dollars  per  quarter.  Drawing, 
vocal  and  instrumental  Music  on  reasonable  terms.** 

It  was  also  added  that  particular  attention  would  be  "paid 

15 


to  the  manners,  decency  of  dress,  as  well  as  the  morals  of 
Pupils." 

From  1  802  to  1 809  the  boys  and  girls  were  taught  together, 
but  it  was  then  thought  wise  to  place  them  in  separate  depart- 
ments and  under  different  instructors. 

On  August  9.  1809,  Rev.  Samuel  Whelpley  of  Morristown 
was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the  boys,  and  Rev.  Timothy  Alden 
of  the  girls. 

The  announcement  stated  that: 

*'Both  sexes  are  taught  in  different  apartments,  under  the 
same  roof,  yet  they  enter  the  academy  on  different  streets,  and 
all  intercourse  is  precluded." 

Mr.  Alden  published  quarterly  catalogues,  and  these  give 
many  interesting  details  of  the  work  of  the  young  ladies  in  the 
Newark  Academy.  For  example,  we  learn  that  "each  pupil  ranks 
in  her  respective  class,  gradually  rising  according  to  the  merit 
of  her  performance.  The  head  of  each  class  receives,  every  Sat- 
turday,  an  honorary  certificate,  and  goes  to  the  foot  of  her  class, 
in  order  again  to  arrive  at  the  same  elevation." 

We  are  told  that  much  time  was  spent  in  learning  and  recit- 
ing memoriter  select  passages.  Twenty  duodecimo  lines  were 
called  a  lesson.  "Those  young  ladies  who  learn  and  recite  with 
such  correctness  as  to  need  very  little  or  no  prompting,  of  the 
first-class  twenty,  of  the  second  class  fifteen,  of  the  third  class 
twelve,  and  of  the  fourth  class  nine  such  lessons,  in  the  course  of 
the  week,  besides  devoting  a  proper  attention  to  the  other  exer- 
cises of  the  academy,  are  considered  as  particularly  meritorious, 
and  receive  a  certificate  of  approbation  and  applause." 

Mason  on  Self  Knowledge  appears  to  have  been  a  favorite 
book  for  this  kind  of  work,  and  one  of  the  quarterly  catalogues 
announces  that: 

"Miss  Harriet  Holden,  Miss  Catharine  Gouverneur  Ogden, 
miss  Amelia  Maria  Smith,  and  miss  Emma  Whitehead  have  re- 
peated memoriter,  select  passages  of  the  first  part,  and  the  whole 
of  the  second  and  third  parts  of  this  work  amounting  to  more 
than  three  thousand  lines." 

In  another  place  it  is  announced  that: 

"Since  the  commencement  of  the  present  year,  miss  Eliza- 
beth Pintard  Boudinot,  in  addition  to  a  variety  of  other  exer- 
cises, has  repeated  memoriter,  the  whole  of  professor  MacKean*s 
Sacred  Extracts,  a  duodecimo  volume,  consisting  of  four  hundred 
and  sixty  pages." 

16 


Embroidery,  needle  work,  and  painting  were  regarded  as 
very  important,  and  the  quarterly  catalogues  solemnly  recount 
the  various  articles  embroidered  or  painted  by  the  pupils. 

One  of  these  same  quarterly  catalogues  also  records  that: 

"Miss  Elizabeth  Pintard  Boudinot  and  miss  Ann  Julia  Stock- 
ton have  carefully  performed  various  examples  under  as  many 
rules  in  arithmetick  as  are  deemed  expedient  in  the  education  of 
a  young  lady." 

From  this  time  until  1855  few  details  of  the  academic  work 
of  the  school  have  come  down  to  us,  but  the  records  of  the  Trus- 
tees show  that  there  were  frequent  changes  of  teachers,  and 
apparently  there  was  little  stability  of  organization. 

From  an  advertisement  published  in  the  "Newark  Adver- 
tiser" of  January  2,  1835,  we  learn  that  the  school  year  had 
apparently  been  reduced  to  forty-four  weeks,  and  that  the  tuition 
for  English  subjects  was  $20  a  year,  and  for  Latin,  Greek,  Geo- 
metry, Astronomy,  Criticism,  Philosophy,  etc.,  $28  a  year.  It 
was  also  announced  that  an  Evening  School  would  be  opened 
in  the  Academy  for  the  benefit  of  Young  Gentlemen  in  Newark 
who  might  wish  to  avail  themselves  of  such  an  opportunity  for 
improvement.  The  advertisement  is  signed  by  Caleb  Abbott, 
who  appears  to  have  been  the  principal  of  the  school. 

A  circular  issued  in  1  844  gives  the  names  of  Isaac  Harring- 
ton and  Marcius  Willson,  A.M.,  as  Associate  Principals.  It 
announces  that  "TTiere  w^ill  be  a  vacation  of  six  w^eeks  in  July 
and  August:  (term  commencing  the  first  Monday  in  September:) 
a  vacation  of  one  week  at  the  Holydays,  and  one  w^eek  in  the 
latter  part  of  April."  The  terms  for  board  and  tuition  were  $200 
a  year.  For  tuition  alone  the  charge  in  the  Elementary  classes 
was  $24,  in  the  Junior  $32,  and  in  the  Senior  classes  $40  a  year. 
Modern  Languages,  Drawing  and  Painting  were  each  $3  a  quar- 
ter extra,  and  there  were  additional  charges  for  stationery,  as 
well  as  for  fuel  during  the  winter  season. 

The  sharing  of  ownership  with  St.  John's  Lodge  did  not 
prove  an  entirely  serene  partnership,  and  from  time  to  time  con- 
troversies arose  over  repairs  to  different  parts  of  the  building, 
the  Academy  trustees  declining  to  repair  the  roof,  because  their 
part  of  the  building  was  dry,  and  the  Lodge  refusing  to  repair 
the  front  stoop,  claiming  that  it  did  not  inconvenience  their  mem- 
bers. 

On  October  4,  1843,  the  Academy  trustees  solemnly  re- 
solved, "That,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Board,  the  ownership  of 
the  fourth  (third)  story  of  the  Academy  not  being  in  us,  but  hav- 

17 


ing  been  conveyed  to  the  Society  of  Freemasons,  it  is  not  incum- 
bent on  this  Board  in  any  manner  to  repair  the  same,  and  that 
the  Board  do  therefore  decHne  to  accede  to  the  proposition  of 
the  Masonic  Society  that  one-half  of  the  expense  of  a  new  roof 
be  borne  by  us/* 

There  was  also  a  good  deal  of  controversy  caused  by  the 
permission  given  Rev.  Mr.  Woodbridge  in  1  802  to  erect  a  dwell- 
ing house  in  the  rear  of  the  Academy  for  the  use  of  female 
boarders.  Most  of  the  money  for  the  erection  of  this  building 
was  contributed  by  certain  friends  of  the  Academy.  These 
"Associates"  as  they  called  themselves  claimed  to  own  the 
house,  and  it  was  not  until  1  846  that  the  conflicting  claims  were 
finally  adjusted. 

One  of  the  rooms  in  the  Academy  building  was  occupied, 
from  1828  to  1836,  by  the  Newark  Mechanics*  Association,  for 
the  purposes  of  holding  lectures  and  maintaining  a  circulating 
library. 

April  26,  1836,  the  Common  Council  of  the  City  was  given 
permission,  with  the  consent  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  to  use  the 
lodge  room  for  its  meetings. 

Apparently  there  was  no  objection  to  such  a  use  of  the 
Academy  building,  but  its  use  for  religious  purposes  seems  to 
have  been  sternly  suppressed,  for  on  April  4,  1831,  the  Trustees 
having  been  informed  that  the  Mechanics'  Association  had  al- 
lowed the  Episcopalians  to  use  its  room  for  religious  purposes, 
voted  that  the  Episcopalians  must  quit  at  once.  That  this  was 
not  due  to  sectarian  prejudice  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  when 
on  February  7,  1838,  Rev.  Dr.  William  R.  Weeks  applied  to  the 
trustees  for  the  temporary  use  of  a  room,  for  the  Fourth  Presby- 
terian Church,  for  religious  worship,  he  was  notified  that  the 
board  could  not  extend  to  him  more  courtesy  than  had  been 
shown  to  the  Episcopalians  seven  years  before. 

The  differences  between  St.  John's  Lodge  and  the  Aca- 
demy finally  led  the  authorities  of  the  two  organizations  to  de- 
cide that  it  would  be  wise  to  dissolve  the  partnership.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1855,  the  Lodge  agreed  to  accept  $10,000  for  its  rights  in 
the  building,  and  in  the  following  May  the  Trustees  of  the  Aca- 
demy executed  a  deed  to  the  United  States  of  America  for 
$50,000,  conveying  a  plot  1  14  feet  on  Broad  Street,  and  140 
feet  on  Academy  Street.  The  Academy  retained  a  plot  in  the 
rear  of  this  on  Academy  Street,  of  52  feet  front  and  1  14  feet 
deep,  which  was  sold  to  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  May,   1858, 

18 


for  $6,000,  and  later  sold  by  the  Church  to  the  United  States 
Government. 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March  29,  1855,  the 
Academy  was  re-incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  "Trustees  of 
Newark  Academy."  An  act  passed  at  about  the  same  time  au- 
thorized the  Trustees  to  sell  the  property,  to  give  legal  title 
thereto,  and  to  use  the  proceeds  for  the  purposes  specified  in  the 
original  charter  and  subject  to  its  limitations  and  restrictions. 

No  school  was  maintained  by  the  Academy  from  April, 
1855,  to  September,    185  7. 

On  April  20,  185  7,  the  Academy  purchased  for  $18,000 
the  property  of  the  Wesleyan  Institute  at  the  corner  of  High 
and  William  Streets. 

Rev.  Frederic  A.  Adams,  of  Massachusetts,  who  had  been 
teaching  in  Orange  for  a  few  years,  was  engaged  to  be  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  new  Academy,  which  was  opened  September  20th, 
185  7,  for  youth  of  both  sexes. 

On  June  16,  1859,  Mr.  Adams  resigned  the  office  of  prin- 
cipal. 

On  July  8,  1859,  the  trustees  "Resolved,  That  it  is  con- 
sidered expedient  for  the  welfare  of  the  Institution  that  it  be  con- 
fined to  the  instruction  of  male  pupils.** 

On  July  9,  1859,  Mr.  Samuel  A.  Farrand,  Principal  of  the 
Trenton  Academy,  was  appointed  principal. 

The  school  opened  September  5,  1859,  with  20  pupils,  un- 
der Mr.  Samuel  A.  Farrand  as  principal,  Mr.  Henry  H.  Stout 
first  assistant  and  Mr.  Jacob  Wilson  second  assistant. 

On  February  7,  1860,  Mr.  Laban  Dennis  was  engaged  as 
first  assistant,  in  place  of  Mr.  Stout. 

The  school  year  closed  July  3,  1860,  with  67  names  on  the 
roll. 

A  military  company  was  organized,  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
1862,  to  which  most  of  the  Academy  pupils  belonged,  and  a 
uniform  was  adopted,  of  gray  cloth,  with  black  braid  trimmings, 
and  the  letters  N.  A.  C,  "Newark  Academy  Cadets,**  on  the  front 
of  the  cap. 

The  cadets  were  drilled  by  one  of  the  assistant  teachers,  Mr. 
Montgomery  R.  Hooper.  It  is  said  that  when  the  cadets  were 
first  organized,  all  of  the  members  but  one  were  measured  to 
determine  their  places  in  the  line.  To  that  one  Mr.  Hooper  said, 
"You  may  go  up  head,  Leslie,  w^e  w^on*t  measure  you,'*  and  there 
was  no  dispute  as  to  his  right  to  the  head  of  the  line.  The  cadet 
referred  to  was  the  late  Dr.  Leslie  D.  Ward. 

19 


In  1865,  Mr.  Farrand  resigned  his  position  as  principal  to 
establish  a  school  in  New  York,  leaving  the  Academy  in  a  flour- 
ishing and  prosperous  condition. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Caleb  M.  Harrison,  State  Super- 
intendent of  Public  Schools,  who  took  charge  in  September, 
1865. 

In  1869,  the  Trustees  appointed  Mr.  Harrison,  Mr.  Charles 
M.  Davis,  and  Major  Edward  R.  Hopkins,  a  graduate  of  West 
Point,  to  conduct  the  school  as  Associate  Principals. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Harrison  resigned,  and  the  school  continued 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Davis  and  Major  Hopkins  until   1875. 

In  that  year  Mr.,  now  Dr.,  Farrand  was  again  appointed 
Principal,  and  under  his  direction  the  school  was  entirely  reor- 
ganized. He  remained  as  Head  Master  until  his  death  in  Novem- 
ber, 1908,  although  for  several  years  before  that  he  had  done 
little  active  work,  and  his  connection  with  the  school  had  become 
largely  advisory. 

In  March,  1887,  his  son,  Wilson  Farrand,  was  appointed 
Master  in  the  Academy.  In  1 889  he  became  Associate  Head 
Master,  and  in  1901,  Head  Master  holding  that  office  jointly 
with  his  father,  and  gradually  assuming  full  control  of  the  school. 

In  1 88  7,  an  extension  was  built  at  the  north  end  of  the 
Academy,  containing  a  gjnnnasium,  which  at  the  time  was  re- 
garded as  the  largest  and  best  equipped  in  the  state.  The  Aca- 
demy was  one  of  the  first  schools  in  the  country  to  make  physical 
training  a  regular  part  of  the  curriculum,  and  since  that  time  it 
has  been  an  important  and  characteristic  part  of  its  work. 

In  1895,  a  large  extension  was  erected  at  the  rear  of  the 
main  building,  containing  a  study  room  for  the  upper  forms,  an 
assembly  room,  laboratories  and  recitation  rooms.  In  the  same 
year  the  Pinneo  property,  adjoining  the  Academy  grounds  on  the 
south,  was  purchased  and  added  to  the  school  playground. 

In  1906,  gifts  of  Alumni  and  friends  purchased  a  plot  of 
ground  at  Orange  and  First  Streets.  This  plot,  on  high  ground 
overlooking  Branch  Brook  Park,  has  since  been  used  by  the  Aca- 
demy as  an  Athletic  Field,  and  is  intended  to  be  the  site  of  the 
school  itself.  A  movement  is  now  on  foot  to  raise  funds,  and  as 
soon  as  a  sufficient  sum  has  been  secured  to  insure  the  erection 
of  a  new  building,  without  encroaching  on  the  instruction  de- 
partment and  the  salary  list,  the  work  will  be  begun.  It  is  hoped 
that  the  building  may  be  completed  and  the  removal  accom- 
plished in  the  year  1918. 


20 


T.M.  Reg.  U.S.  Pat. Off.  i 


M12730 


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